The Pakistan squash team has secured the silver medal in the men’s team event at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, going down 2-0 to Malaysia in the gold-medal final on October 2. It is Pakistan’s first silver of these Games, lifting the contingent to 31st on the medal table after six bronzes, and it continues a proud recent record: back-to-back Asian Games team silvers after the runners-up finish at Hangzhou 2022.
The final, played at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena, began with genuine promise. Nasir Iqbal took the opening game 11-8 against Malaysia’s Ameeshenraj Chandaran in just nine minutes, raising hopes of an upset. But Chandaran stormed back to take the next three games 11-3, 11-6 and 11-4, closing out the tie in 26 minutes.
The second match was a thriller worthy of the occasion. Noor Zaman, Pakistan’s 22-year-old star, dropped the first game 11-8 to Eain Yow Ng, then roared back to win the next two 11-6 and 11-7. With the contest level and momentum swinging Pakistan’s way, Ng found another gear, sealing the match and the gold for Malaysia with 11-4 and 11-5 in the final two games.
Pakistan Squash Team’s Road to the Final
Pakistan’s path to the final was built on resilience, never more so than in the semi-final against Hong Kong, China on October 1. Noor Zaman fell 3-1 to Tsz Kwan Lau in the opening tie, putting Pakistan immediately on the back foot. Muhammad Ashab Irfan steadied the ship with a composed 3-0 win over Chi Hin Henry Leung (11-5, 13-11, 11-7), setting up a winner-takes-all decider.
What followed was 53 minutes of high drama. Nasir Iqbal edged past Hong Kong’s Lai 3-1 (10-12, 11-3, 11-9, 14-12), holding his nerve in a tense fourth game to send Pakistan into the final with a 2-1 victory. Earlier in the tournament, Pakistan had swept the Philippines 3-0 in the group stage and beaten South Korea 2-0 in the quarter-final, where Ashab Irfan defeated Jooyoung Na 11-5, 11-8, 11-8.
Bronze Medals Add to the Tally
The team silver caps a productive Asian Games for Pakistan’s squash contingent. On September 26, both Noor Zaman and Muhammad Ashab Irfan won bronze medals in the men’s singles, bowing out in the semi-finals to Malaysia’s Ng Eain Yow and India’s Abhay Singh respectively. A day earlier, Ashab had come from a game down to beat India’s Veer Chotrani 3-1 in the quarter-final, while Noor defeated Hong Kong’s Leung 3-1.
Noor Zaman Carries a Famous Name Into a New Era
Noor Zaman’s performances in Nagoya carried extra resonance. The 22-year-old from Peshawar is the grandson of Qamar Zaman, the former world champion, and he arrived in Japan as the reigning Under-23 world champion, a Pride of Performance recipient, and Pakistan’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony alongside cricketer Fatima Sana. Ranked among the world’s top 30, Zaman is widely seen as the standard-bearer of Pakistan’s squash revival.
Team captain Muhammad Asim Khan said after the team’s strong start to the tournament: “We have shown that Pakistan can compete at the highest level.” Coach Saad Al-Haq added: “The players’ dedication is evident; we are on the right path.” The Pakistan Olympic Association summed up the achievement in its official announcement: “A remarkable run by Team Pakistan to reach the Asian Games final and bring home a silver medal.”
A Legacy Reawakened
For a nation that once ruled world squash through Jahangir Khan, Jansher Khan and Qamar Zaman, this silver feels like more than a medal. Pakistan’s Asian Games squash story includes team gold in 2010 and bronze in 2018, but the back-to-back silvers of 2022 and 2026, built around a young core of Noor Zaman, Ashab Irfan, Nasir Iqbal and Asim Khan, suggest the pipeline is healthy again. With the next Asian Games on the horizon, the Pakistan squash team has given the country every reason to believe the golden days may not be confined to history.
Sources
- Geo Super: Pakistan settle for Asian Games squash silver
- Pakistan Squash Federation: silver for Pakistan (official)
Umar is an engineer by profession and a passionate writer by passion. He has a deep interest in sharing good news related to Pakistan and has been working hard to promote the positive image of his homeland. Umar has written numerous articles on various topics related to Pakistan, such as technology, sports, culture, and economy.